Physical Location

This collection is housed in a climate-controlled environment off site and requires at least up to three weeks for retrieval. Please call or email the department with requests for this material prior to planning your visit.

Biographical Note

Joseph William Begala was born in Struthers, Ohio, on March 4, 1907, and died in Kent, Ohio, on April 24, 1978. His parents were Steve and Katherine Zebura Begala. In 1945, Joseph Begala married Harriet Kilb and they raised two sons, Jergen and John. Professor Begala received an A.B. degree from Ohio University in 1929, a B.A. from Kent State University in 1933 and an M.A. from Ohio University in 1935. While in the United States Navy, which he entered in 1942, he co-authored Hand-to-Hand Combat which the Navy and Marine Corps adopted as a training manual. He was discharged in 1946 at the rank of lieutenant commander.

Except for the time spent at Ohio University and in military service, Professor Begala taught health and physical education at Kent State University from 1929 to 1972. At various times during his academic career, he coached golf, track, tennis, football and cross-county. He is best remembered for his accomplishments as a wrestling coach. Indeed, with a record of 307 wins, 69 losses and 5 ties over a period of forty-two seasons, he became known nationally as the "winningest wrestling coach." He retired from coaching in 1971.

Among the many honors bestowed on Coach Begala during his career were the "Croix of Chavalier of FILA (International Wrestling Award from France)" in 1967 and acceptance into the national "Helm's Hall of Fame" in 1969. In 1971, Kent State University awarded him "The President's Medal." His professional activities included service as the 1968 State Chairman of the United States Wrestling Foundation and, from 1935 to 1942, he served as the Regional Chairman of the National Athletic Trainer Association.

Scope and Content

On May 16, 1979, Mrs. Harriet Begala transferred the papers of her late husband, Josepth W. Begala, to the Kent State University Archives. She has subsequently donated additional items for placement in the collection.

At the time of his death, Coach Begala was preparing a history of wrestling at Kent State University, the materials for which can be found in box 1 of the collection. Also located in this box are numerous photographs that Coach Begala had selected for possible inclusion in his study. Over one thousand additional photographs can be located in boxes 17 through 20 of the collection.

The non-photographic material, which comprises the bulk of this collection, begins with biographical material in box 2. General correspondence files, curriculum files, publications by Coach Begala and various subject files follow. Of special note, beginning with folder 40 in box 10, are schedules and results from various sports sponsored at Kent State University from the 1930's. The preponderance of this sports related material, however, pertains to wrestling and includes programs, results, rosters, rules, schedules, and other materials.

Box 21 contains assorted items that have been restricted until January 1, 2015.

The athletic records segment will prove especially valuable to researchers who are interested in intercollegiate wrestling as well as the history of the sport at Kent State University. Not only can information be located on a particular meet in most cases, but there exists sufficient source material for a statistical analysis of wrestling at Kent State University over a period of decades.

Harriet Begala and her son, John, have kindly donated such literary rights as they possess in these materials, and all property rights to the collection, to the Kent State University Archives.

Curriculum, miscellaneous teaching/learning aids, Special Course 1000, Some Contributions by Biologists to theSolution of Human Problems. NOTE: Includes outline of an extension of lectures by A. C. McIntosh: July, 1932

Film: Winning Wrestling: Takedowns. Produced by Edcom Productions, Cleveland, OH, copyright 1970. 16mm film + DVD copies. Features Begala at beginning of film and Kent State wrestler(s) throughout film.

Film: Winning Wrestling: Counters for Takedowns. Produced by Edcom Productions, Cleveland, OH, copyright 1970. 16mm film + DVD copies. Features Begala at beginning of film and Kent State wrestler(s) throughout film.

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